Common name: Bolivia wattle
Acacia pycnostachya F.Muell. ex Benth. APNI* Synonyms: Racosperma pycnostachyum (F.Muell.) Pedley APNI*
Description: Erect or spreading shrub or tree 1–8 m high; bark finely fissured, light brownish grey; branchlets stout, strongly angled or flattened, glabrous, pruinose.
Phyllodes elliptic to narrowly elliptic or sometimes slightly obovate or oblong-elliptic, subfalcate or falcate, 6–10 cm long, 15–30 mm wide, longitudinal veins numerous, closely spaced, rarely anastomosing, 3 or more slightly more prominent, (2-) 3–4 (-6) veins per mm, apex subacute or obtuse, immature phyllodes hairy only on margins, mature phyllodes glabrous; glands absent or 1 inconspicuous gland at base.
Inflorescences 1 or 2 on a short axillary axis 1–9 mm long; peduncles 2–5 mm long, glabrous; heads cylindrical, 3–6 cm long, bright yellow. Flowers 5-merous (rarely 4-merous amongst predominantly 5-merous flowers).
Pods ± straight, ± flat except slightly raised over seeds, straight-sided to barely constricted between seeds, 4–12 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, thinly leathery, longitudinally wrinkled when dry, sparsely hairy; seeds longitudinal; funicle folded several times forming a large aril.
Flowering: July–October.
Distribution and occurrence: from Bolivia Hill to the Qld border northwest of Tenterfield; rare. Grows in dry sclerophyll forest amongst granite outcrops.
NSW subdivisions: NT
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Vulnerable; Commonwealth EPBC: Vulnerable
This species is considered data-deficient by Saving our Species (SoS, DPIE) which means a conservation project cannot be developed for it. Visit their website and contact SoS if you have additional information.
The name refers to the dense flower spike.
Text by P.G. Kodela (last updated May 2012)
Taxon concept: P.G. Kodela & G.J. Harden, Flora of NSW Vol. 2 (2002)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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